7 Essential Oils for Allergies: Relieve Your Allergy

What Are The Best Essential Oils For Allergies?

Allergies come with various symptoms. Factors from the immediate environment can trigger varying degrees of allergies in many individuals. These people have particularly sensitive immune system that reacts whenever the person is exposed to factors called allergens, which may be:

For the airways: shortness of breath, or in severe cases, passing out, seizures, or even worse.

Currently, the rate of allergy diseases have been on the rise around the world, and according to statistics, up to 60 million Americans are suffering from a particular allergy or another. This surge may be a result of the busy schedules that have impaired proper nutrition and rest or increasing exposure to chemicals from the environment. In industrialized countries, cases of allergic diseases are more common than rural or agricultural areas.

How Do Allergic Reactions Occur?

The rule of the thumb has been to avoid anything that triggers these allergic reactions. The body has a defense system in place to combat and prevent unwanted materials from finding their way in. Reactions start with the allergen reaching the immune system after breaching its first point of contact – the eyes, nose or mouth. The immune system takes the allergen to be a threat – though usually harmless, and unleashes its various defense mechanism to prevent its further invasion. These defense mechanism starts with the production of immunoglobulin E antibodies, stimulating the white blood cells to release inflammatory chemicals like histamine. These processes lead to the symptoms of the allergic diseases.

Doctors prescribe drugs that block activities that cause allergic reactions and prevent cell activation or degranulation processes. The prescriptions are usually antihistamines, epinephrine (adrenaline), mast cell stabilizers, etc. However, all of them usually have one thing in common – side effects. Essential oils for allergies can help fight your allergy and give you some relief. This does not mean you should stop your normal medication.

So what essential oil is good for allergy relief? Some essential oils can have very beneficial effects on your allergy if you use them frequently. You can experiment yourself what works best for you.

The Best Essential Oils for allergies

Lavender Oil

There are not many essential oils as valuable and versatile as Lavender oil. It is a powerful healer with excellent therapeutic properties. Lavender contains antihistamine and anti-inflammatory features that can help with allergic reactions. This sweet-smelling oil not only calms and soothes the mind and body, but it also helps with skin irritations resulting from insect bites. The nervous system is drawn away from hypersensitivity due to the power of this oil.

You can use the Lavender oil for allergies by mixing it with your bath oils and lotions. You can also use the oil with a diffuser and it also helps you with your sleeping problems.

Basil Oil

Basil Essential Oil is beneficial for allergies by helping to pfight the rash reaction to allergens in the body. It also aids the body hormones in functioning efficiently. The interesting fact about using Basil oil for allergies is its ability to help the mind find peace and relaxation. It uplifts the mood, ease stress and helps you concentrate. Basil Oil helps with most symptoms attached to allergies: a headache, migraines, sinusitis, etc. With antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, almost every microbial agent assigned to the allergic reaction is rendered ineffective before they can cause any trouble.

For topical application, you can dilute 2-3 drops of the oil with an equal amount of coconut or olive oil and apply to the temples, neck or the chest.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint essential oil is popular for treating breathing disorders due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It controls allergic reactions by reducing inflammations, unclogging the nasal passageways, the sinuses and relieving scratchy throats. It not only works for allergies, but also for cold, asthma, coughs, bronchitis, and sinusitis. It is a natural expectorant and can clear phlegm occurrences. Aside being an essential oil for treating allergies, it is also a mood booster.

For topical use, you can add to a cold-water compress, or rub on the chest, temple or neck. If you have sensitive skin, try to dilute the oil in a suitable carrier oil.

Tip: Add the peppermint to the lavender oil to create a massage blend.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Essential Oil is an antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent that will help you get rid of the pathogens (mold, fungi, bacteria, etc.) responsible for allergic reactions. Tea tree oil is unsafe for internal use, and should only be used for skin-related allergies. It is an important oil to have in your house to help clean, disinfect and remove allergens.

To use the tea tree oil for allergies, apply 2-3 drops of the oil with cotton on the affected area. If you have sensitive skin, dilute the oil with a carrier oil before usage.

You can use the oil with your hair conditioner and body wash to destroy pathogens.

Lemon Oil

Lemon oil is one of the most popular and best essential oils for treating allergies. Cold-pressed from lemon rind, the potent Lemon Oil is a multipurpose oil in that it cleans toxins from the body, aid digestion, reduces constipation, refreshes the skin (especially after irritation), inhibits bacteria growth, boosts the immune system and much more. Many even use it as a disinfectant in their home to get rid of triggers.

You can add 2-3 drops of lemon oil to a glass of water, or drink, for internal consumption as relief from stomach upsets resulting from allergies.

You can also mix a few drops of your laundry detergent.

Tip: Add 50 drops of lemon to 25 drops of tea tree oil, and 14 oz. of water to make a simple household cleaner.

Eucalyptus Oil

The cooling sensation that comes with using Eucalyptus oil may have prompted its other name ‘cool oil’. It is mainly used for many respiratory conditions because it opens up the nasal passageways and is a good essential oil for asthma, cough, sinusitis, cold, sneezing, sore throat, etc. With citronella, an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, Eucalyptus oil works against the activities of allergens. As an expectorant and antimicrobial oil, it gets rid of harmful toxins in the body and microorganisms that could trigger allergies.

Usage: You can use Eucalyptus Oil for allergies topically, internally or by inhalation. Apply 2-3 drops to your head or chest.

For throat conditions, put 2-3 drops of the oil in salt water and gargle for a few minutes.

You can also use the eucalyptus oil with a diffuser.

Steaming: Put 2-3 drops of the oil into a bowl of hot water. Cover your head with a towel and face the steam.

Tip: Blend the oil with peppermint and coconut oil to make a vapor rub – homemade.

You can also combine equal proportion of Eucalyptus, peppermint and lavender oil and a carrier oil to make an allergy blend.

Frankincense Oil

Typical for its aroma, Frankincense oil is helpful in relieving many allergic symptoms and keeping the body calm and relaxed. It works as pain and stress reliever, immune booster, and to reduce inflammations. Frankincense oil helps with digestive disorders, relieve nausea, cough and clearing the nasal passages.

You can apply the oil topically, internally or inhale (with a diffuser), but with discreet moderation because of its potency.

Putting 2-3 drops of the oil in your bath oil helps too.

To Conclude

Allergies are sometimes seasonal and can come at any time when triggered. Take good care of your body naturally by adding essential oils to your routine for your allergies. I would recommend you try any of the suggested oils and possibly blend two or more together to enhance their effects. Please share your experiences with me in the comments.

About the author

Sally Wong

Sally Wong is a manual therapist for about 15 years now and also a massage specialist. She is actively taking care of her body to stay healthy and in shape by doing Yoga and Tai Chi. She has a lot of knowledge and interest in Essential Oils because of her Oriental background. She learnt many things from her Grandmother. Originally from a small village in South China, now she lives in Vancouver, Canada.